National Health Interview Survey Series

collection: series

Investigator(s): National Center for Health Statistics

Studies

9

Variables

31,739

Publications

400

About this Collection

Conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the Health Interview Surveys (later titled National Health Interview Survey) first began gathering information as of 1957. Microdata files were permanently retained beginning in 1963.

The NHIS obtains information about the amount and distribution of illness, its effects in terms of disability and chronic impairments, and the kinds of health services people receive.

The series provides a continuous sampling and interviewing of the civilian, non-institutionalized population of the United States through core surveys and supplemental datasets. Supplemental NHIS data provide information on topics such as AIDS knowledge and attitudes, child health care and immunization, dental care, substance abuse, hospitalization, preventive care, nursing care, prosthetic appliances, and self-care.

Supplements on Aging (SOA) conducted in 1984 and 1994 and the 1984-1990 Longitudinal Study of Aging (LSOA) were designed to furnish information on the causes and correlates of changes in the health and functioning of older Americans. Another component of the NHIS is the National Health Interview Survey on Disability (NHIS-D). Begun in 1994, the NHIS-D was designed to collect data that can be used to understand disability and to develop public policy on disability.

Starting in 1997, the NHIS was redesigned to include a basic module, a periodic module, and a topical module. The basic module corresponds to the NHIS core questionnaire and is made up of the family core, the sample adult core, and the sample child core questions. The periodic module provides more detailed information on topics resulting from the basic module. The topical modules correspond to the supplements of the 1982-1996 NHIS and focus on public health data needs as they arise.

While the NHIS has been conducted continuously since 1957, the content of the survey has been updated about every 10-15 years.

Recent years of data from this series can be found by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) project website and will not be curated by ICPSR and NACDA to avoid duplicate efforts and distribution.

Studies

9 results

National Health Interview Survey, 2002

The purpose of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is to obtain information about the amount and distribution of illness, its effects in terms of disability and chronic impairments, and the kinds of health services people receive. Implementation of a redesigned NHIS, consisting of a basic module, a periodic module, and a topical module, began in 1997 (See NATIONAL HEALTH INTERVIEW SURVEY, 1997 [ICPSR 2954]). The 2002 NHIS contains the Household, Family, Person, Sample Adult, Sample Child, Child Immunization, and Injury and Poison Episode data files from the basic module. Each record in the Household-Level File (Part 1) contains data on type of living quarters, number of families in the household responding and not responding, and the month and year of the interview for each sampling unit. The Family-Level File (Part 2) is made up of reconstructed variables from the person-level data of the basic module and includes information on sex, age, race, marital status, Hispanic origin, education, veteran status, family income, family size, major activities, health status, activity limits, and employment status, along with industry and occupation. As part of the basic module, the Person-Level File (Part 3) provides information on all family members with respect to health status, limitation of daily activities, cognitive impairment, and health conditions. Also included are data on years at current residence, region variables, height, weight, bed days, doctor visits, hospital stays, and health care access and utilization. A randomly-selected adult in each family was interviewed for the Sample Adult File (Part 4) regarding respiratory conditions, renal conditions, AIDS, joint symptoms, health status, limitation of daily activities, and behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. Also included in this file are variables pertaining to the Healthy People 2010 Objectives. The Sample Child File (Part 5) provides information from an adult in the household on medical conditions of one child in the household, such as respiratory problems, seizures, allergies, and use of special equipment such as hearing aids, braces, or wheelchairs. Also included are variables regarding child behavior, the use of mental health services, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The Child Immunization File (Part 6) presents information from shot records on vaccination status, number and dates of shots, and information about the chicken pox vaccine. Episode-based information regarding injuries and poisonings is found in the Injury and Poison Episode File (Part 7), which examines the cause and date of injury or poisoning, loss of time from work or school, and whether the episode resulted in hospitalization. Information in the Injury and Poison Verbatim File (Part 8) is comprised of narrative text describing injuries, including type of injury, how the injury occurred, and the body part injured. The Alternative Health Supplement (Part 9) collected information from sample adults on their use of 17 nonconventional health care practices: acupuncture, ayurveda, biofeedback, chelation therapy, chiropractic care, energy healing therapy/Reiki, folk medicine, hypnosis, massage, naturopathy, natural herbs, homeopathic treatment, special diets, high dose or megavitamin therapy, yoga/tai chi/qi gong, relaxation techniques, and prayer and spiritual healing. The Alternative Health Verbatim File (Part 10) contains the narrative text regarding the use of nontraditional health care practices.

National Health Interview Survey, 1994: Second Longitudinal Study on Aging, Wave 3, 2000

The Second Longitudinal Study of Aging (LSOA II) is a collaborative effort of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The NATIONAL HEALTH INTERVIEW SURVEY, 1994: SECOND SUPPLEMENT ON AGING (SOA II) (ICPSR 2563) serves as the baseline for this study. LSOA II, Wave 3 consists of 7,936 survivor interviews and 906 decedent interviews in two data files: the Survivor File (Part 1) and the Decedent File (Part 2). The Survivor File contains one record for each sample person (N = 9,447) interviewed at baseline and includes information drawn from several additional sources, including the 1994 National Health Interview Survey (ICPSR 6724) core questionnaire, the 1994 National Health Interview Survey: Family Resources Supplement (ICPSR 2656), Phase I of the 1994 National Health Interview Survey on Disability (ICPSR 2539), and the SOA II baseline interview (ICPSR 2563). Wave 3 questions (beginning at variable SF3664) examined migration, convalescent home utilization, nutrition, influenza immunization, mammogram, prostate, and cholesterol screenings, routine use of vitamins, aspirin, calcium supplements, and antioxidants, and detailed questions on home health care utilization. In addition, a random one-quarter sample of the follow-up respondents were chosen to complete the Childhood Health and Family Longevity Module. This section is similar to that administered during the 1996 Health and Retirement Survey (HRS). Variable SF3462 indicates whether the sample person answered the childhood module. For the Decedent File (Part 2), information was gathered from a family member or close relative regarding sample persons (N = 906) who were deceased at the time of Wave 3 interviews. Questions focused on housing, long-term care, assistance with key activities, chronic conditions, cognitive functioning, health care use, and health insurance.

National Health Interview Survey, 1994: Second Longitudinal Study on Aging, Wave 2, 1997

The Second Longitudinal Study of Aging (LSOA II) is a collaborative effort of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The NATIONAL HEALTH INTERVIEW SURVEY, 1994: SECOND SUPPLEMENT ON AGING (ICPSR 2563), serves as the baseline for this study. LSOA II Wave 2 interviews were conducted with a total of 7,998 respondents who were interviewed at baseline and consists of 7,060 survivor interviews and 998 decedent interviews. LSOA II Wave 2 is comprised of two data files, the Survivor Data (Part 1) and the Decedent Data (Part 2). The Survivor Data contains one record for each sample person (N = 9,447) interviewed at baseline and includes information drawn from several additional sources, including NATIONAL HEALTH INTERVIEW SURVEY, 1994 (ICPSR 6724) core questionnaire, NATIONAL HEALTH INTERVIEW SURVEY, 1994: FAMILY RESOURCES INCOME AND ASSETS SUPPLEMENT (ICPSR 2656), and NATIONAL HEALTH INTERVIEW SURVEY ON DISABILITY, 1994: PHASE I, DISABILITY OUTCOME SUPPLEMENT (ICPSR 2539). Wave 2 questions examined migration, convalescent home utilization, persistent symptomatic conditions such as pain in legs, swelling in feet, etc., nutrition, influenza immunization, mammogram, prostate, and cholesterol screenings, routine use of vitamins and aspirin, and detailed questions on home health care utilization. In addition a random one-quarter sample of the follow-up respondents were chosen to complete the Childhood Health and Family Longevity Module. This section is similar to that administered during the 1996 Health and Retirement Survey (HRS). Variable SF3462 indicates whether the sample person answered the childhood module. For the Decedent Data (Part 2) information was gathered from a family member or close relative regarding sample persons (N = 938) who were deceased at the time of Wave 2 interviews. Questions focused on housing, long-term care, assistance with key activities, chronic conditions, cognitive functioning, and health care use and health insurance.
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